VB Series Eng. v Aust > FINAL

[british bulldog]

Australia are 4/6 chances with Sporting Odds to beat England 2-0 in the best-of-three VB Series final. Double maximum bet as these opportunities rarely present themselves.

England gained the bonus point required to make the finals but slumped to an 11th consecutive one-day international defeat to the Aussies in Adelaide on Sunday. That gave me a winning bet as I predicted the final would be between these two nations.

That record - and the fact that Australia fielded a virtual second XI - may prompt punters to lump on the 4/6 about the sequence continuing.

Australia's stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist was certainly in confident enough mood after their four-wicket triumph in a low-scoring encounter.

He said: "The finals are going to be a challenge, but the comforting thing for us is we've played them four times and we've beaten them in all of those matches."

That was in stark contrast to England counterpart Nasser Hussain who admitted: "I have to be honest, we're all a bit jaded, especially the boys who have been here for the Test matches."

As far as the outright odds are concerned Australia are 1/6 chances to prevail, with England on offer at 7/2.

I have posted this play early as I cannot see this price lasting. A near full strength Australian side would be 1/4 to win each game which only results in the double paying just worse than 4/7.

I will post further news and analysis as and when I have some.

 

[Pumpkin]

Warne may be back for the finals. This may actually suit England as every time he has bowled in the ING cup games, his 1st spell has been expensive. McGrath will be back as well. Trescothick and Knight have found Mcgrath, without his normal accuracy easier to get away than Williams.

 

[british bulldog]

VB SERIES FINAL Aust v. Eng Game 1

VB SERIES FINAL Aust v. Eng Game 1

Australia have won 11 straight games against England in one-day cricket, and it's hard to see Nasser Hussain's men stopping the rot in the first game of the best-of-three VB Series final which starts in Sydney tomorrow morning (03.15 GMT).

Even a second-string Aussie side had too much for England in their most recent clash and it's hard to argue with the general 1/3 and 1/4 put up by the bookies on the home side.

England still have too many loose moments in this form of cricket and cameos by the likes of opener Nick Knight, bowling find James Anderson and all-rounder Paul Collingwood need to backed up with consistency throughout the team. For now it just isn't there.

Taking the 11/4 on England just smacks of a stab in the dark at present and Hussain's men don't yet deserve English faith. It's often been difficult to play the outright markets in this series with the Aussies constantly lop-sided favourites so I've been drawn to Bet365's Player Performances on a regular basis.

However, I seem to have suffered a lot of hard-luck stories ? Alec Stewart missing out by a couple of point on two occassions, so perhaps I should doff my cap to the oddsmakers on this occasion and say they've been spot on with their lines. But I won't give up. Hopefully there'll be plenty of chances to step in again at the forthcoming World Cup.

For now I will keep the "Player Performance" powder dry on this match, tempting though it is to play Stewart again at 32, and take the price on another special market ? the 11/8 on offer for England to score over 250 runs.

At first glance, Sporting Odds don't appear to be giving too much away here as it's easy to think of plenty of occasions when England have fallen short of the benchmark score in one-day cricket.

But the more I delve, the more it seems that the 11/8 could just offer a little bit of value.

Here are England's scores in the eight group games:

England v Australia 251 (Sydney)
England v Australia 229 (Melbourne)
England v Sri Lanka 292 (Brisbane)
England v Sri Lanka 258 (Perth)
England v Australia 264 (Hobart)
England v Sri Lanka 253 (Sydney)
England v Sri Lanka 279 (Adelaide)
England v Australia 152 (Adelaide)

The above list shows that England have passed 250 in six of their eight matches, achieving the feat in both their games at Sydney (tonight's venue), if only by a small margin. Game two's score of 229 should have been more along with one or two others when England lost key wickets at vital stages.

Against the Aussies they've passed it twice in four attempts, including their only clash in Sydney.

To widen the picture, in the six innings played at Sydney in this series, the 250 mark has been passed on all six occasions. That suggests the Sydney strip is clearly conducive to runs (Sri Lanka clobbered 343 against the Aussies, by far the biggest total of the series) so if England bat sensibly they should pull it off.

Much will depend on Nick Knight and Marcus Trescothick of course, but Knight, especially, has been in great form in this series, scoring 451 runs (almost 100 more than anyone else).

England, having been forced to experiment earlier in the series, will also have Michael Vaughan at the top of the order and whilst he continues to see it like a football the Yorkshireman is capable of smashing a big score in quick time.

I would argue that with a depleted Aussie bowling attack (it's unlikely Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Andy Bichel will all figure as they recover from various injuries), England would pass 250 more often that not on this Sydney pitch, so the 11/8 is a worthy option.

" Back to square one Match specials "

2 pts ENGLAND to score 250 runs or more @ 11/8

 

[british bulldog]

Australia simply too good in every department



The chasm in class that exists between Australia and England was laid bare before a rapturous full house in the first final of the VB series in Sydney.

After shooting out the tourists for just 117, Australia made a succulent meal of the chase, passing the target in an almost incredible 12 overs and two balls, without losing a wicket. Adam Gilchrist, not content with six scalps during England's innings, produced something sensational even by his exalted standards to complete what amounted to a mismatch.

Gilchrist had promised something special before the game, but this was better than special. He ran England's bowlers ragged from the outset, pummelling Andrew Caddick on either side of the ground for five fours from six deliveries in his third over. Nor was there any escape for James Anderson, as Australia romped to 55 without loss from the first six overs. When Matthew Hoggard replaced Caddick, his first two deliveries disappeared through extra cover and third man.

It is almost impossible to imagine a more brutal onslaught. Shuffle his field though he might, Nasser Hussain had no answers. To the delight of the crowd, Gilchrist pulled, drove and cut his way to 69 off 37 balls in an unforgettable display of raw aggression. Australia's hundred, unbelievably, came off just 62 deliveries, 19 of which were dispatched to the boundary. It was scintillating batting, the like of which is rarely seen in cricket.

Matthew Hayden was sedate by comparison with Gilchrist, but he made his mark emphatically near the end with six off Ronnie Irani. Alec Stewart missed him in the same over, but it could hardly have been less relevant. It was Hayden who finished it, with two off Hoggard through mid-wicket the coup de grace.

The early pace was set ? in every sense ? by Brett Lee, who reached speeds of 93 mph after Hussain won the toss and chose to bat. There was nothing Marcus Trescothick could do to avoid a sharply lifting ball that brushed his glove on the way through to Gilchrist.

Another Lee lifter accounted for Nick Knight, who would have been run out earlier had Brad Hogg hit the stumps as Knight attempted a sharp single into the covers. Gilchrist took his second catch from an uncertain fend to leg.

Hussain had scored just a single when an excellent in-swinger from Brad Williams induced an inside edge on to the England captain's stumps. Stewart, after a positive start, was unfortunate to get the cue end of his bat on to a ball from Williams that looped up for another Gilchrist catch.

Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood began a rescue attempt before Vaughan, after driving both Lee and Williams to the rope, became the first of two quick wickets for Andy Bichel, adjudged lbw after being hit on the knee roll. Two balls later Ian Blackwell had gone for another duck, sparring outside the off stump for Ricky Ponting to pouch the catch at second slip.

Shane Warne produced an absolute beauty to send back Collingwood, who again batted stoutly for 43 before he came down the pitch and was left stranded by a sharply turning leg-spinner. Warne, who had announced his retirement from one-day internationals 24 hours earlier, received a rousing ovation from the SCG crowd as he finished his final one-day spell there with an England scalp.

Irani swung Lee to Bichel at mid-on before Anderson and Hoggard provided Gilchrist with his fourth and fifth catches of the innings, both off Bichel. England had been blown away by a bowling masterclass, the prelude to a batting assault that seemed almost superhuman in its belligerence.

 

[british bulldog]

VB SERIES FINAL Aust v. Eng Game 2

VB SERIES FINAL Aust v. Eng Game 2

Unless you believe in conspiracy theories, Australia will wrap up the VB series by beating England in Melbourne on Saturday.

What do I mean by that? Well, if Australia were to somehow lose the second game in Melbourne it would mean the final going to a third match, ensuring a sell-out crowd and serious money in the coffers for the organisers.

Secondly there is the matter of Darren Lehmann's ban. Lehmann was given a five-match suspension for his racist outburst against Sri Lanka so, having served three games already, he would be available for the opening match of the World Cup if the VB goes to a third game. That World Cup opener is against Pakistan so you would imagine the Aussies would like to have him available.

If you buy into all that, then England at 7/2 is the bet for you.

However, I don't think for one minute that the Aussies will let up. In fact, such is the gulf in class between the two sides that the Aussies would have to field a second string X1 to give England a chance. Even then you'd still fancy the hosts.

So the 1/5 on the Aussies looks about as safe as it comes in this form of cricket. They've won 12 on the trot against England and they'll surely want to rub the old enemy's noses in the dirt one last time in what has been a glorious summer for the Baggy Greens.

It's not really my job to tip 1/5 shots but this looks such a no-brainer that I are sorely tempted.

I said ahead of the first match that the Bet365 Player Performances had given me some hard luck stories that I might steer clear until the World Cup itself.

It would take something exceptional for me to go in again but that could just be the case here.

I refer to Ricky Ponting and his amazing one-day record at the MCG. In his 24 games in Melbourne, Ponting has smashed five centuries and 10 fifties - his most recent two knocks 119 against England and 106 not out against Sri Lanka.

Bet365's under/overs put Ponting in at 35 for this game and that's just too good to ignore. Ponting has bettered that 35 mark in 15 of his last 18 outings at the MCG so the odds are loaded heavily in his favour.

The danger, of course, is that he doesn't reach the crease - a fear brought home by Adam Gilchrist and Matt Hayden guiding the Aussies to a 10-wicket win in the opener.

Australia winning the toss and batting first would surely allay that fear but to be honest England must surely do better than their 117 at Sydney.

There's also the compensation offered by my pre-tournament punt on Hayden to be top series bat. He's in second place at the moment, 67 behind Nick Knight, so if the openers do make hay again it's at least good news for the Hayden bet.

But for those who don't have an interest in Hayden, Ponting is still well worth a punt.

Player Performance market Bet365

1 point R. Ponting to score 35 or more points @ 5/6

 

[british bulldog]

Australia take VB series in tense Melbourne finish

Relentless pressure from Australia's bowlers, in particular Brett Lee, proved too much for England in a pulsating finish to the second VB series final at Melbourne. Lee took three wickets in the 48th and 50th overs to deny England after their victory target had appeared well within reach. Australia have taken the series, with the third final at Adelaide now unnecessary.

England's reply began badly, with Brett Lee's express pace again undoing Marcus Trescothick, who found Andy Bichel at third man with an upper cut. The promotion of Ronnie Irani to number three backfired again as the Essex captain, after swinging Williams for one mid-wicket boundary, was well caught there in the same over close to the rope by Andrew Symonds, whose sunglasses served him well against the evening glare.

Knight, who had looked uncomfortable against Lee, was a little unfortunate to pick out Symonds at backward square leg with a firm push. But Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain settled England down, Vaughan with fine timing either side of the wicket and Hussain with some good fortune, edging Lee between keeper and slip and almost perishing when the ubiquitous Symonds couldn't quite hold on to a chance by the rope at deep square leg.

Shane Warne, making his one-day farewell to the MCG, was held back until the 23rd over. When he did come on he was feted by his home crowd, but it was Brad Hogg who made the breakthrough in the next over, when Hussain (28) lost his off stump hitting across the line. But Alec Stewart joined Vaughan to maintain the momentum, with 13 runs coming off Warne in the 27th over. A Matthew Hayden misfield on the mid-wicket boundary gave Vaughan his half-century.

Australia made the breakthrough they desperately needed when Vaughan, on 60, clipped Warne straight to Ricky Ponting at short mid-wicket. With the pressure mounting Stewart responded magnificently, driving Warne for ten runs off three balls to keep England on target. He went to his half century with an inside edged two in the same bowler's next over, but his terrific effort was also halted by Warne, when an airborne cut was held safely by Lee at short third man.

A booming boundary over extra cover got Andy Flintoff under way, and another in Warne's final over brought up England's 200. Paul Collingwood kept his cool with a succession of ones and twos, but Lee struck immediately on his return to york Flintoff for 16. Ian Blackwell lashed Lee to a diving Damien Martyn at deep gully, and the force was back with Australia.

A leg-side yorker was deflected on to Andy Caddick's stumps off his toes, and James Anderson was run out off his second ball, looking for a single after failing to make contact. After being favourites to win five overs from the end, England had the game stolen from them at the death.

Earlier an unbeaten 71 from Brad Hogg enabled Australia to fight back after a middle order collapse. A batting onslaught in the last ten overs propelled Australia to 229 for seven, with Hogg receiving sterling support first from Lee and then from Bichel.

In a twist so typical of this unpredictable game Warne, having been cheered all the way to the wicket on his farewell batting appearance in ODIs, was caught and bowled first ball by Irani. If there was dismay as he walked off, the cheering more than made up for it in the end, as Australia's champion was chaired off by his team at the moment of victory.

On the betting side, unfortunatly Hayden missed out by 3 runs denying us a 7/1 winner. The double maximum came off for the second time in a week with Australia winning the final 2-0. Ricky Ponting failed in the Player Performance market.

All in all, we held our own throughout the VB Series and now it's time to look forward to the World Cup which commences in the first week in Febuary. I hope you enjoyed the threads and I tried to cover match synopsis as and when I could.